Hugh Laurie Hits Back After Tribute To ‘Brilliant’ Producer Found Dead Sparks Row
Hugh Laurie has hit back after facing backlash for the tribute he paid to Dana Eden, the Israeli co-creator and producer of the Apple TV+ series Tehran.
Eden, 52, was found dead in a hotel room in Athens, Greece, earlier this month, while filming the show’s fourth season. Initial police reports indicate the cause of death was a suicide.
In a post on X, Laurie – who stars in the show’s third season – described Eden as “brilliant, and funny, and an exceptional leader,” calling her death “a terrible thing”.
Dana Eden, who co-created and produced ‘Tehran’, died on Sunday, seemingly by her own hand. It’s a terrible thing. She was brilliant, and funny, and an exceptional leader. Love and condolences to all who knew her.
— Hugh Laurie (@hughlaurie) February 17, 2026
Well apparently Laurie failed the litmus test for purity by expressing grief over the the death of his friend and colleague, because social media users immediately began accusing the actor of being a Zionist due to his association with the Israeli producer and the series…
She was part of the occupation force's propaganda arm.
— Natasha (@OhTripe) February 21, 2026
What a shame, didn't expect you to be a closet Zionist.
So she was producing an Israeli propaganda series on "Teheran"? And she's the one you mourn?
— clay vessel (@ShabanaMir1) February 20, 2026
we are all deeply heartbroken that this Zionist propagandist is dead 🕯️
— 🙂 (@panicmaxxing) February 17, 2026
it's a shame that the thousands of Iranian lives her work has helped end also ended up affecting the plot of your show, hope the rest of the season goes smoothly though!https://t.co/ZFt9Kz1tM0
Hugh Laurie responded to the backlash by denying that he is a Zionist and hitting out at the people who took issue with him grieving a friend…
Nothing I have ever said or done could lead a sane person to believe that I am a Zionist. However. If someone exults in the death of a friend of mine, yes I will block them. If you wouldn’t do the same in my position, you can fuck off too.
— Hugh Laurie (@hughlaurie) February 20, 2026
Unfortunately that then opened up another can of worms, with social media users now accusing Hugh Laurie of being an antisemite! You couldn’t make it up…
So you don’t believe Israel has a right to exist?
— Danielle Lieberman (@delieberman) February 20, 2026
You go from respected actor to horrible antisemite.
— Mark Hubbard. (@MarkHubbard33) February 21, 2026
Zionism is only the Jewish people wanting safety in their ancestral homeland: you just showed why.
Is “Zionist” such a dirty word for you that you felt compelled to vehemently deny being one?
— Mark Zlochin – מארק זלוצ'ין༝ (@MarkZlochin) February 20, 2026
The internet in a nutshell. The guy can’t win! Bet he wishes he never said anything at all. Don’t engage, Hugh! It’s a trap.
For the time Robbie Williams had to cancel a concert in Istanbul following backlash for being a ‘Zionist’, click HERE.
